Washing machine



T. C. DAVIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21.1920.

Patented Nov. 7 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z INVENTOR. 7'6? 0/) V/S.

NE Y

Patented Nova 7, 1922..

PATENT THOMA C. DAVIS, 0F PUEBLO, COLORADO.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed .l'nly 21, 1920. Serial No. 397,875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing machines and its primary object is toprovide a machine of simple and highly eflicient construction in whichdifferent kinds of clothes can be washed separately and simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide a washing machine of thischaracter in which clothes classified according to their materials orcolors, are washed simultaneously in a continuous operation by waterstransferred systematically between the different classes, and stillother objectsreside in the constructions, arrangement and combinationsof parts fully described in the course of the following description withreference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferredmethod of applying the principle of the invention and modificationsthereof.

In the drawings in the several views of which like parts are designatedby corresponding characters of reference,

Figure 1 represents a plan view of the washing machine in its preferredform;

Figure 2, a sectional side elevation thereof;

Figure 3, a transverse section on the line 33, Figure 2';

Figure 1', a fragmentary end elevation of the machine shown in F igure 2looking in the direction of the arrow X.

Referring in detail to the drawings my improved washing machinecomprisesan open tub 5 interiorly of semi-cylindrical form and mountedon a suitable supporting structure 6. The tub is divided by verticalpartitions 7 into three compartments one of" which at an end of the tubhas a plug closed outlet 8 for the dirt carrying water after the washingoperation is completed.

Two tanks 9 supported upon an elevated structure at the opposite end ofthe tub are provided with faucets for the supply of hot and cold waterto the adjacent compartment thereof.

A plurality of cylindrical drums or barrels 10 partially extending inthe compartments of the tub in spaced and concentric relation to theinterior surface thereof are mounted for conjunctive rotation upon ahorizontal shaft 12 rotatably supported in boxes which are fastened uponthe end'walls and the partitions of the tub.

The circumferential wall of each barrel is perforated for the ingressand egress of water contained in the respective compartments of the tuband a portion thereof is loose and hinged at one of its ends as at 14,to permit of opening the barrel for the admission or removal of clothes.

A spring catch 13 at the end of the movable section of the perforatedbarrel wall opposite to its hinge connection 14 serves to lock it in itsclosed position.

Each barrel is divided into two compartments by longitudinal partitions15 alined at opposite sides of its hub and, in effect, constituting onepartition, and the different barrels are preferably arranged on theshafts so that their partitions extend angularlv with relation toeachother, i. e., are staggered, as shown in Figure 3, for the purposeof facilitating their rotary motion by even distribution of the weightsof their contents.

Each compartment of the tub, except that at the discharge end which ashereinbefore described has the plug-closed outlet, is connected with theintake opening of a centrifugal pump 16 the outlet of which is connectedto an opening in the next adjoining compartment by a conduit 17.

It will be seen that by these means the liquid supplied to the firstcompartment ofthe series from the elevated tanks 9, may

-be transferrerl successively to the other compartments until it reachesthe last compartment from which it is discharged by removing the plugfrom the outlet.

The operating mechanism of the machine consists of a horizontal drivingshaft 18 mounted in hearings on the supporting structure of the tub andcarrying a pulley it) for its connection with a conveniently locatedsource of mechanical energy.

A sleeve :20 slid-ably mounted on the shaft by means of a feather whichprevents its relative rotation, has at its ends beveled gear wheels 21adapted for separate connection with a corresponding gear 22 at thelower end of a vertical shaft 23 which is mounted for rotation on abracket 2% at the adjacent end of the tub. I canal-S fastened on the?drivingshaft llO by set screws, limit the sliding movement of theconnected gear wheels in opposite directions.

A hand lever 25 fulcrumed on the bracket 23 has an actuative connectionwith the sleeve 20 and it .carries as usual a pivoted grip 26 inconnection with a sliding detent which cooperates with a relativelystationary segment to secure the parts in their adjusted positions.

The shaft has at its upper end a worm 27 which meshes with acorrespondingly toothed wheel 28 on a horizontal shaft 29 mounted inbearings at the upper end of the bracket and the end wall of the tub,and a gear wheel 30 on the last-mentioned shaft engages a similar wheel31 of'larger diameter on the shaft 12 of the barrels.

It will be seen that by moving the beveled gear-wheels. 21 alternatelyin engagement with the interposed gear at the end of the worm shaft, therotary movement of the barrels may be reversed whenever desired for thepurpose of subjecting every part of their contents to the cleansinginfluence of the liquids contained in the respective compartments of thetub.

The operating mechanism of the pumps by which the waters are transferredbetween the compartments of the tub consist of a beveled gear wheel 32on the driving shaft which meshes with a corresponding wheel 33 at anend of a shaft 34 mounted in hangers underneaththe tub.

Beveled gear wheels 35 meshing with similar gears 36 on therotaryelements of the centrifugal pumps are loosely mounted on the shaft 34 sothat under normal condition while the barrels are in motion, no actionis imparted to the pumps.

A sliding clutch 37 connected for rotation with the shaft by the usualfeathers, consists of two connected members 38 adapted for interlockingengagement with the gear wheels 35 which to this end have series ofratchet teeth at the ends of their oppositely extendin hubs.

The c utch is pivotally connected to a hand-lever 39 and coiled springs40 interposed between the clutch members and the respectivergearsmaintain the clutch in its normal inactive position.

In the operation of the washing machine an appropriate quantity of wateris supplied to the first compartment of the tub from the supply tanks 9together with soap or other cleansing preparations and the clothes to bewashed are placed in the compartments of the barrel by lifting thehinged portions of the circumferential walls thereof. The clothes aredivided so that white oods of fine and delicate fabric are in the rstbarrel, those of coarser texture in the next adjoining barrel, and thecoarsest and above stated colored pieces in the barrel which rotates inthe last compartment of the tub.

The shaft 12 is made to rotate alternately in opposite directions duringperiods of arbitrary length, by reversing the position of the slidinggears 21 through the medium of the hand lever 25, thereby causing theliquidcontained in the compartment of the tub to freely and forciblycirculate through the contents of the barrel into which it en- 'tersthrough the perforations in the circumferential wall thereof.

Vhen the clothes in the first barrel of the series are thoroughlycleansed, the water of the first compartment of the tub is transferredto the second compartment through the medium of the first pump which isoperated by moving the clutch 37 into interlocking engagement with therespective beveled gear wheel on the shaft 34.

After the first compartment of the tub hasthus been drained, a freshsupply of water is admitted thereto from the supply tanks 9.

The water used in the first operation to cleanse the clothes containedin the first barrel of the series now performs a similar function withrespect,to the contents of the second barrel while the washed clothes inthe first barrel are rinsed by the fresh water entering its perforationsas before.

After a second period of operation during which the clothes contained inthe second barrel are washed, the water of the first and secondcompartments of the tub are transferred respectively to the nextadjoining compartments and the above described operation is repeateduntil finally the contents of the last barrel have been washed andrinsed, when the remaining water is discharged through the outlet 8.

It will thus be seen that by the use of my washing machine, clothes ofdifferent grades of fineness or different colors are thoroughly washedat one and the same time without coming in contact with each other andwith the same quantity of cleansing and rinsing liquids.

It will be apparent that the apparatus is susceptible of variations inthe construction and arrangement of its parts within the rinciple of myinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a washing machine, the combination of a driving shaft, a plurality ofcylindrical drums, each partitioned into two compartments.concentrically mounted on and fast to said driving shaft and disposedwith the partitions in staggered relation, and means for rotating saiddriving shaft.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

THOMAS C. DAVIS.

